Livin' What You're Given

We live in a world where we are called upon to make choices on a daily and maybe even an hourly basis. During the last two years, we have all felt restrictions for our ability to make decisions. But even in the face of restrictions, there are still many decisions we can, should and will be making.

But sometimes our decisions are made on the basis of patterns established from various input sources. These may include childhood memories or teachings.

Join me as I open season two of Livin' What You're Given with a personal story about one of the messages I received as a young child about why I was not recognized by God. Having carried that message for many years, it was the love of Christian friends and a selfless mentor that helped me move into the reality that I am in fact loved and recognized by God. So are you.

Perhaps this story will strike a chord with one of the listeners out there too. Perhaps it will inspire a person to move toward unpacking the untrue messages and opening themselves to the true messages.

The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com

To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing "If You Only Knew" on this episode, he can be found at: https://dotseroband.com

Stephen Watts and his wife owned a successful jazz club in Downtown Denver. He also was a successful musician, touring with a band he helped create. He and his wife hosted multiple international events in their club. Then COVID hit. Suddenly his opportunities to tour, play music and run his business went away. He and his wife struggled to keep their business viable. But like so many others, they had to close.
With few options for work, he had to find a way to pay bills. He accepted a job or "side hustle" as he calls it. He began delivering flowers. During one delivery he found a new opportunity to do his unique ministry of speaking to and helping other alcoholics begin their journey of recovery, as he had done many years before.
In this interview, Stephen unpacks some of the gifts he received even in a time when the world, his in particular, seemed to be disintegrating before his eyes. His words of encouragement, inspiration and faith are a wonderful example of how to look, even in the dark times, for the gifts God is offering. His gifts are always perfect.
If you wish to check out some of Dotsero's music, see below.
The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com

In my next installment in the series about pivoting, author Deb Hall talks about the various pivot points of not being able to conceive or give birth to a biological child. Infertility is a subject few people are brave enough to talk about outside of close family circles and support groups. But Deb has written a book that openly deals with the pain, frustration and feelings of hopelessness that can be part of this journey. It is her hope that this work will help others to no longer feel alone on this path.
In her book Barren and Beautiful: Discovering Joy and Healing in the Wake of Infertility, Deb shares her own story of pain, loss, healing, and eventually the realization of blessings and gratitude for the joy she has found in her own life and in the process of adopting two boys. Her authentic, tender approach to helping readers find hope and healing is a work inspired by her faith in God and a desire to help others find ways to heal and thrive. Even if this is not a subject you have dealt with personally, perhaps this book will be of value to someone you may know.
Available at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Barren-Beautiful
To connect with Deb Hall go to http://thewriteinsight.com/
Email is deb@thewriteinsight.com
The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com

What is the cave? According to Pastor Scott Distler, the cave is that place in your life where you retreat when you have been hurt. In his book, The Cave: When Ministry Becomes Misery, Scott shares the story of being betrayed heading into the four signs that can signal we are heading into the cave. The four signs he talks about are fear, isolation, self pity, hopelessness. He introduces us to those well-intentioned dragons who believe they are on a mission of good but can do great harm.
But he also wants us to know what he learned in the cave and how he pivoted out by involving his wife with sharing his authentic feelings, looking for and reaching out for help, offering specific prayers, looking for the fingerprints of God along the journey and walking into forgiveness.
Whether you are a person who has a paid position as a pastor, you are a lay minister or you find yourself being betrayed and hurt by someone in any situation, this book will help you to walk in, through and out of that cave in healthy and authentic ways. A gift for your mental and spiritual health when the dragons come calling.
To find this book from Pastor Scott Distler go to https://www.amazon.com/Cave-When-Ministry-Becomes-Misery
Also available from Barnes and Noble
Go to your local bookstore and ask for the title and author.
The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com

In part two of our two-part interview, Karen DeArmond Gardner talks about life after she left her abusive marriage of thirty years. She tells us that leaving is just the beginning and not the end on the road to healing from domestic abuse. As she discusses various aspects of seeking help from God and her family, she tells us about writing and publishing her book, Hope for Healing from Domestic Abuse: Reaching for God's Promise of Real Freedom.
Karen says this is not a self help book but a book to help women who have escaped domestic abusers learn to love, rely upon and trust again, starting with their relationship with God. By her own account she is a myth buster, truth teller and freedom fighter. And her words in this interview as well as her book prove that to be exactly who she is. Founder of Another One Free Organization, she will inspire you to listen to, learn from and believe the women who are in abusive relationships. Even if you are not in this situation, chances are you know someone who is. Her contact information for her book and website are below.
The Safe House – Your Safer Place app is on both IOS and Android.
Hope for Healing from Domestic Abuse: Reaching for God's Promise of Real Freedom by Karen DeArmond Gardner is available at Amazon.com.
Another One Free website https://anotheronefree.com
The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com